CMQ completes million-dollar infrastructure investment; receives green light from Transport Canada

Following months of work, a multitude of inspections and an additional CA$10 million (US$8.6 million) investment, Central Maine & Quebec Railway (CMQ) got the go-ahead from Transport Canada.

On December 5, CMQ received the official revocation of a series of notices and orders, confirming immediate threats no longer exist on CMQ railway. The notices and orders were transferred to CMQ following its purchase of bankrupt Montreal Maine & Atlantic.

CMQ has spent the past four months installing more than 32,000 new crossties, 110,000 linear feet of rail and 25,000 tons of ballast, upgrading bridges, culverts and crossings, completing surfacing work and removing more than 300 in-track rail defects from its main tracks and sidings. The Sherbrooke subdivision is the 125-mile backbone of CMQ’s Quebec rail line and stretches from Lac-Mégantic to Brookport just east of Farnham.

“We had to make this investment. The line was covered in snow last February and March when we were finally able to begin our diligence, but we made a commitment to Lac-Mégantic Mayor Laroche and citizens, as well as many regulators, that we would address the years of neglect,” said CMQ President and Chief Executive Officer John Giles. “It was an extremely tough undertaking. We had industry peers questioning the amount of work that we signed up for with such a short construction season. I knew we were in good hands with Ron Marshall, general manager of engineering, leading this project with his team.”

When asked about the scope of project, Marshall commented, “This is one of the most challenging construction seasons I’ve ever been involved in. But I knew from my experience working with this team at RailAmerica that I would have the support I needed. This investment demonstrates our team’s commitment to operating the railway in a safe and responsible fashion.”

CMQ considers Phase 1 of its transformation now largely completed.

“Not to say we don’t have a lot more track and infrastructure work to do next spring, but we have already started Phase II, which focuses on growth, customers and interline partners,” said Giles.

 

Metra urges support for 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project


The Metra Board of Directors highlighted the need for the $1-billion 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project (CIP), which aims to untangle a knot of railroad tracks on the South Side of Chicago, Ill., that causes significant delays for Metra, Amtrak and several freight railroads.

Wisconsin finalizes rail corridor purchase

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) finalized its purchase of a 70-mile segment of rail line between Madison to Reedsburg and Madison to Cottage Grove.

North Carolina, Illinois, Ohio grade crossings set for improvements

The N.C. Department of Transportation‘s Rail Division has made crossing safety improvements at two intersections in Pitt County, at two intersections near Marion and at an intersection in Onslow County.

How rail fares in spending bill

The House and Senate’s effort to keep the federal government operating through the end of fiscal year 2015 was revealed late Tuesday in the form of a trillion-dollar-plus spending bill, Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015.

Fall Conference recap: AREMA, RTA

The 96th Annual Railway Tie Association Symposium and Technical Conference was held October 14 – 17 in Orlando, Fla., where 307 attendees gathered together to discuss the crosstie industry, as well as the railroading environment as a whole.

MnDOT seeks public input on plan for improved freight, passenger movement on Minnesota railroads

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), along with local municipalities and counties, will host an open house Dec. 8, in Willmar, Minn., to gather input for the 2015 update of the Minnesota State Rail Plan.

Railway Association of Canada honors 2014 safety award winners

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) recognized four of its members for their outstanding contributions to rail safety. Representatives from Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, VIA Rail Canada and The Roberval and Saguenay Railway Company accepted their awards at the association’s Rail Day event in Ottawa, ON.

Hoback retiring; Mills named INRD president and CEO

Indiana Rail Road (INRD) Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Hoback will retire, effective June 30, 2015, from the helm of the railroad he has rebuilt from a broken-down branch line into a thriving regional railroad.

NCRR commits more than $13 million in rail improvements

The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) is moving forward with more than $13 million in economic development investments across the state, which will expand rail access, improve safety and sustain rail projects spanning from Mecklenburg County northeast to Durham County and from Durham County southeast to Wake and Craven Counties.

Watco names director of transportation safety

Watco Transportation Services appointed Jason Stutzman to director – transportation safety and training where he will work closely with the regional safety managers to develop and improve initial and annual refresher training courses.

Watco names two to safety leadership positions

Watco Transportation Services has promoted Ron Martin to vice president of transportation safety and training and Michael Smith to director of engineering safety and training.

CANARAIL awarded contract to study feasibility of Quebec rail line

The province of Quebec awarded a contract to CANARAIL to perform a feasibility study of a new 310-kilometer (192-mile) long railway from Sept-Iles to the Labrador Trough.

Hamberger: healthy freight rail network vital to economy

Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and Chief Executive Officer, Edward Hamberger recently said that a strong and robust freight rail network is needed to meet the country’s transforming business challenges head on.

GWI acquires Arkansas shortlines

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) late Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014 announced it “has signed an agreement with Pinsly Railroad Company of Westfield, Mass., to acquire certain subsidiaries that constitute Pinsly’s Arkansas Division (‘Pinsly Arkansas’) for $40 million in cash, subject to adjustment for final working capital.”

Central Maine & Quebec Railway names new CFO

Central Maine & Quebec Railway appointed Harold Tynes as chief financial officer, effective November 10, succeeding Sachi Mishra.

Alaska Railroad honors Jack Burton for 50 years of service

Railroad Track Repairer and Board Member Jack Burton recently passed the half-century mark as an employee of the Alaska Railroad (ARRC) and was recognized for his tenure with a salute during the ARRC Board of Directors meeting November 13. Burton joined ARRC as a track laborer in April 1964.

J.L. Patterson; Hatch Mott MacDonald take home “Be Inspired” awards

Two North American companies won top honors for Bentley System, Inc.’s Be Inspired Awards, part of Bentley’s annual Year in Infrastructure Conference, held in London, U.K., Nov. 4-6. Bentley provides software solutions to engineers, architects and constructors for sustaining intelligent infrastructure. The awards recognize users’ efforts to improve the world’s infrastructure.

Tower 55 reopens following $100-million retrofit

Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo joined Congresswoman Kay Granger in celebrating the re-opening of Tower 55, a 141-year-old railroad interlocking on Nov. 7. The newly-rebuilt interlocking will improve safety while relieving rail congestion following a multi-million dollar overhaul.

Szabo plans to leave FRA

Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo will be stepping down from the post he has held since April 2009 and, effective Jan. 1, 2015, will be on staff at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)—effectively returning to his Chicagoland roots.

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